Tag: positive mind

Gazing at the most beautiful creations of nature, a feeling of wonder would come over me: Will I ever get tired of marvelling at the beauty of Allah’s (God) creations? Never, In’Sha’Allah (Arabic word for “If God wills”)! I’m a huge fan of spending time outdoors and it always makes me happy, being in nature always stir the feeling that my soul is as wide and unlimited as the sky. And I feel this overwhelming sense of freedom like a free bird flying in the sky, it makes me feel as big as the grandest sky, but this same sky also reminds me that I am a tiny soul under this vivid wide sky. So it makes me feel both large and small at once and that is something I love about being in nature.

Newcastle, Lake Macquarie

Living on the NSW north coast, we are so blessed to have so many beautiful places around. My darling hubby and I, we both love travelling so we often go outdoors to explore our relaxing escape & always feel amazing after our family getaway. But this time when we three – Hubby, I and our little Bub of course 😉 went out for some Nature therapy, I went into thinking that what is it about nature that makes me sooooooooooo much happy and alive? Is it my love for nature or is there something more? And this thought compelled me to do some research and read more about it so after coming back home I did my research on this and found out why exactly does hanging out in nature make me so happy and alive? And it turned out, it’s not just my adoration or love for nature that leaves me feeling more happy, alive and more at peace — Recently, much research has focused on the so-called “nature connection,” and how it affects our health, outlook and overall life. So, here are few more reasons why it can be beneficial other than the source of happiness for all of us?

Being outside can actually offer relief for everything from depression to negativity. The health benefits of being outdoors are countless – you will get a burst of happiness that’s guaranteed to improve your outlook on life. A study at Japan’s Nippon Medical School found women who spent six hours in the woods over the course of two days had an increase in virus and tumour-fighting white blood cells, and the boost lasted at least seven days afterwards. Being ‘at one’ with nature also gives your brain a break from over-stimulation and lets you relax.

Being outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series of studies published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

A new study in the American Chemical Society’s semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology finds that just five minutes of exercise in a green nature setting can boost mood and self-esteem. Click here for link.

A June 29 study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a small group of subjects who strolled through nature for just an hour and a half reported a significant reduction in negative thoughts. Link here.

Who doesn’t love this divine nature’s view!

Another benefit of being in nature is that it makes us more creative. According to David Strayer, Ph.D., a professor of Cognition and Neural Science at the University of Utah, “Modern multitasking overtaxes brain areas that are involved in suppressing distractions, thinking creatively, and developing a sense of identity. Strayer discovered that a mere four days backpacking in nature improved people’s creativity by 50%”. Woow, this is amazing!

In this day and age, we all are loosing our focus, aren’t we? But the good thing is we can improve our focus if we spend some quality time in nature. When I say this ‘quality time in nature’, I mean no mobile phones around, mobile Datta off, wifi off, just disconnect yourself from technology and cyber world and absorb all the love of nature. According to a study published in Psychological Science, interacting with nature gives your brain a break from everyday overstimulation, which can have a restorative effect on your attention levels. It could improve your focus.

Furthermore, A study from Glasgow University showed that people who walked, biked, or ran in nature had a lower risk of poor mental health than people who worked out indoors. Link here. So, If your are planning of spending another workout chained to the treadmill, move your run outdoors for a quick burst of happiness.

In conclusion, there are so many studies out there on the internet to prove that spending time in nature not only makes you happy but it provides many other health benefits as well. These were enough reasons to increase my love for nature, what about you guys? 😉

Here are some of the fabulous places we’ve recently visited and spent a quality time as a family, Allhamdullilah (Arabic word for ‘Praise be to God’)!

This place is truly divine – there’s something so magical about being in here.

Newcastle, Lake Macquarie

This place is one of my most favourites for some reason, a very memorable and special one!

Harrington, NSW

Life is always better at the beach! I truly believe being on the beach is the best escape anybody can have – this is the perfect place to unwind and to detach yourself from the world. This is a divine beach. You can either walk on the jetty or run along the sand – Harrington has it all!

I have shared few pics, now tell me about you guys … How often do you get away? Once a year, once a month or every weekend? Make some plan for your next scheduled break, take vacations in beautiful places, visit a state or national park or go to a beautiful beach — whatever landscape speaks to you. Even if it’s a quick trip to your nearest city or a drive down to your local landscapes, make it a lifestyle choice to travel often. Also, if you have the opportunity to get outside of your home for a brisk walk or a workout, take the chance to soak in that ‘Mother Nature’.

“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art”. by La Rochefoucauld

This phrase is sooooo beautiful, Isn’t it? Eating intelligently is actually an art, if we learn this art we can be the most healthy and fit people around but throughout our life we continuously heap all kinds of abuse on our body …

Wrong food

Wrong lifestyle

Wrong thoughts

Wrong breathing

Wrong habits — In short, almost every kind of wrong that is possible is loaded on it. There are many new chemicals in the air and water leading to severe pollution. The preservatives and colorants used by the food industry are a hazard that we are blissfuly unaware of. The high level of pesticides in soft drinks created a stir sometime back but it was quickly forgotten. The choice is completely ours – to remain healthy or to give in to the demands of the taste buds.

In this day and age, we love junk foods and the options are endless, we ingest new chemicals, use more drugs of all kinds, eat adultrated and refined foods and abuse ourselves with various stimulants and sedatives on a daily basis. We are living in a toxic environment even harmless seeming things like household cleaners, solvents, cigarette smoke, air freshners and the very clothes we wear could contain toxic dyes. Here i am talking about the toxins that come from outside, but what about the toxins we generate inside our bodies through toxic thoughts, stress, negative emotions and anxiety. And I am sure you are all aware of the fact that a body overloaded with toxins suffer from various ailments ranging from mild to the complicated like; constipation, bloated stomach, gas, fatigue, mental weakness, headaches, poor skin, poor memory, depression, body odour, bad breath are some of the problems caused by toxicity. So, it is vital that we get rid of these toxins (process called Detoxification). This process can be done by incorporating the following things into your life:

I always tell people that stick to food as close to their natural state as much as possible (by doing so half of the work will be done). Eat food that your body can digest easily; what mothernature intended (simply stick to the way mothernature made it).

Health Commandments:

Avoid artificial anything – No to diet soda, No to artificial sweetner, if you can’t pronounce the ingredients don’t buy those foods.

Welcome to my Healthy Life

About Me!

I'm a Clinical Nutritionist with more than six years of experience in diet planning and counselling for patients with nutritional and medical problems. I have a degree in Foods & Nutrition with major in Dietetics. I believe that food has an impact on our lives in so many ways, ranging from a cellular nourishment level all the way to emotional, physical and social wellbeing. My aim is to teach you how to live your healthiest life, give you ways to enjoy simple and delicious food, provide you tools you need to feel and look your best. I believe you deserve to and can feel your best everyday. So, join me in this goal and start living a healthy life! Xx